Mixing effects in dead end hydrogenation of oils: Sulfite oxidation model

Most industrial hydrogenators are of the dead end type where the gas is bubbled at the bottom of the apparatus, builds up a certain pressure on top of the oil, and is not recirculated. The hydrogen needed by the reaction comes partly from the fraction of the bubbles that is absorbed and partly from the gas space. It was found that sodium sulfite oxidation follows the same mixing pattern, i.e., the highest rate of oxidation always occurred in the upper half of the liquid and correlated strongly with the Reynolds number of the turbine. it is shown that for Reynolds numbers above 600 the optimum impeller position is about two thirds the liquid height measured from the bottom of the vessel. Information is given regarding the variations in selectivity, isomerization and hydrogenation of oils when the speed, relative location and dimensions of the turbine are varied.